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'Sigh~ I wander out, and I wander back.'
All day long, Nojiku hopped back and forth across the border like a snake, slipping into the Land of Wind one moment and retreating to the Land of Rivers the next.
In and out, in and out, driving the Sand Village ninjas into a rage.
Every time they moved to act, Nojiku's team would slip back out of the Land of Wind.
He'd even taunt them, brushing off his hands and leaving.
Just when they thought he was gone for good, boom—he'd show up again.
Damn it! What are Konoha's people up to?
Are they trying to provoke the Sand Village?
Don't they fear sparking a war between our villages?
When word of this reached the Sand Village's border camp, the ninjas were furious, buzzing with heated discussions.
Some shouted about teaching Konoha a lesson, others urged caution, and some insisted the matter be reported to the village for the Kazekage to handle.
Opinions varied, but no one connected the dots to their own past behavior—how they'd often toyed with Konoha's ninjas in the same way.
This time, it was Konoha's turn, and it stung the Sand Village's sensitive nerves.
"So they kept watching you, not letting you into the Land of Wind?" Kazuki asked.
"Yes, Lord Advisor. To avoid misunderstandings or escalating tensions, I brought my team back," Nojiku replied, thinking his approach was sound.
"Foolish," Kazuki said, delivering his two-word verdict.
"Huh?"
Foolish?
Me? How am I foolish?
Being called foolish by his clan elder left Nojiku bewildered.
The others in the command center looked equally stunned.
Retreating to prevent a real conflict or misunderstanding was foolish?
Kazuki, seated at the head of the table, leisurely sipped his tea, savored it briefly, then shook his head in disappointment and set the cup down.
As expected, a rough guy like him wasn't cut out for tea tasting.
"I'm sitting right here. What are you afraid of? Just go wander in their territory. If they dare make a move, hit back—hard. I want you to act overbearing, not timid and spineless. Everyone, if we're going to provoke them, make it loud. The Sand Village dares to stir trouble, so why can't you?
Normally, fine. But with me sitting in this camp, you're still scared of causing trouble?
Even if it comes to a fight, so what? Even if the Sand Village's higher-ups show up to question us, so what? Who do they think they are?"
"…"
Well, damn!
The room fell silent, everyone staring at Kazuki in shock, jaws practically on the floor.
Now they understood why Kazuki called Nojiku foolish.
His methods were too soft!
Be bolder! Be domineering! Be fierce! At worst, we'll have a fight.
At the border, if the Sand Village could call for quick reinforcements, so could Konoha.
As for whether it would spark a war? Was that their concern?
Was that something they needed to worry about?
Just go for it.
"Lord Advisor, I understand now. Please allow me to lead the team and continue this mission," Nojiku said eagerly, realizing he'd been too cautious.
As a jonin of the Uchiha clan, what was there to fear?
With their elder sitting right there, what did it matter if the Sand Village made noise? If you've got the guts, start a war!
Kazuki was right—whether it escalated to war wasn't their problem.
Their job was to complete the mission. If they acted timid against the Sand Village, they'd be laughed out of the clan when they returned.
Uchiha ninjas weren't afraid of trouble.
"Go execute the mission. I'll have Shisui go with you. Even if Rasa himself shows up, there's no danger," Kazuki said.
"Yes!" Nojiku left the command center brimming with enthusiasm, ready to make waves.
"Shisui, go with them. Don't fear clashing with the Sand Village—we want to stir things up. If we don't teach them a lesson, they won't learn. We can't keep hoping others will follow our rules. If they won't, we'll beat them until they do."
"Yes," Shisui replied, accepting the order and leaving.
Have Konoha's people lost their minds? Stirring trouble again?
The Sand Village ninjas at the border camp noticed Konoha's ninjas wandering into their territory again and were livid. They quickly dispatched teams to intercept.
But what they didn't expect was that the previously sly and evasive Konoha ninjas had suddenly turned aggressive.
Come on, hit me!
Don't dare? Then stop yapping. I got lost, deal with it.
Not happy? Fight me then. If a war breaks out, it's on you for striking first—not our fault.
Konoha's ninjas had become bold, leaving the Sand Village ninjas oddly uneasy.
Are these guys really not afraid of starting a war?
No, judging by their attitude and actions, they weren't just unafraid—they were hoping to provoke one. If the Sand Village acted, it would play right into their hands.
Does Konoha want to start a war with us?
Realizing this, the camp's leader gasped and immediately ordered restraint. They couldn't fall for the enemy's trap or act rashly—everything had to wait for the Kazekage's decision.
Did the Sand Village want to start a war with Konoha?
Of course not. Their occasional antics didn't mean they actually wanted conflict.
When Konoha got tough, they had to back down. They couldn't be sure if Konoha was deliberately provoking them to act, giving Konoha an excuse to start a war.
If it was just provocation, that was one thing. But if Konoha had ulterior motives and they took the bait, trouble would follow.
Konoha might use it as a pretext to launch a war against the Sand Village.
As for why Konoha would do this? Who the hell knew?
Hadn't the Sand Village started wars with Konoha for flimsy reasons in the past?
During the First Great Ninja War, after Hashirama Senju's death, the villages grew restless. When Tobirama Senju was ambushed in the Cloud Village, war broke out.
No pretense, just straight-up conflict.
The Second War was a chaotic mess, and the Third… well, no need to elaborate—it was another muddled mess.
If Konoha was now provoking with the intent to start a war, the Sand Village was in danger.
No one could tell if Konoha was just taunting or setting a trap for war.